Representative Jim Jordan (R-FL) failed to meet the threshold in the first Speaker of the House Vote. Notable votes against Rep. Jordan came from Florida and Texas representatives as some of them simply do not like the Ohio congressman, or they feel the process that led to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) ouster is flawed.
Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) has maintained that he is “OK. Only Kevin,” as it appears that he will continue to vote for Rep. McCarthy until a Speaker is elected.
🚨For the record, I’ve always been OK.
Only Kevin.
8 colleagues joined all the socialists in Congress to remove our duly-elected Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy — that should have never happened in the first place.
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 17, 2023
“For the record, I’ve always been OK. Only Kevin. 8 colleagues joined all the socialists in Congress to remove our duly-elected Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy – that should have never happened in the first place,” said Rep. Gimenez.
The day before the vote, Rep. Gimenez endorsed Representative Mike Kelly’s (R-PA) plan to give acting Speaker Rep. McHenry “extended powers” through Nov. 17 which would allow him to push legislation to the House Floor as a looming government shutdown awaits Congress and Israel and Hamas are in a bloody war.
🚨Agreed. We need more of this! https://t.co/KuQODweq4H
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 17, 2023
“Agree. We need more of this!” said Gimenez.
Three Republican representatives from Texas (Reps. Ellzey, Granger, Gonzales) did not vote for Jordan. Reps. Granger and Gonzales voted for former Speaker candidate Representative Steve Scalise (R-LA). Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and John Rutherford (R-FL) voted for Rep. Scalise as well.
Rep. Ellzey voted for Representative Mike Garcia (R-CA).
There is a possibility – and perhaps wishful thinking for Jordan Republicans – that the 20 Republicans who voted against Jordan in the first tally were simply voicing their frustration about the process or of Jordan himself and could change their vote in the second tally. Another option for the Republicans who voted against Jordan is that they change their vote to “present,” lowering the threshold needed for a candidate to be elected Speaker.
This is a developing story.
